Vertical farm designed to produce food amidst Shanghai's skyscrapers
The latest video in our Dezeen x MINI Living Initiative series investigates a design for a hydroponic vertical farm nestled among the skyscrapers of Shanghai.
US architecture firm Sasaki Associates has designed the farm to produce food for the inhabitants of China's largest city.
![Sasaki's plans for Sunqiao Urban Agricultural District in Shanghai](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/05/sunqiao-urban-agricultural-district-Sasaki-architecture-industrial-china-shanghai_dezeen_2364_col_1-852x468.jpg)
The farm's output will largely consist of leafy greens like kale, spinach and lettuce, which are staples of the local diet.
The crops will be grown along a series of looped rails arranged side by side in a greenhouse, which will rotate to ensure even distribution of natural light from the sawtooth roof.
![Sasaki's plans for Sunqiao Urban Agricultural District in Shanghai](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/05/sunqiao-urban-agricultural-district-Sasaki-architecture-industrial-china-shanghai_dezeen_2364_col_0-852x475.jpg)
The project aims to offer a space-saving alternative to traditional land-intensive farming, prompted by high land prices that encourage the development of vertical infrastructure.
It will also features a variety of farming techniques suited to the urban environment, including floating greenhouses, algae farms and a vertical seed library.
![Sasaki's plans for Sunqiao Urban Agricultural District in Shanghai](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/05/sunqiao-urban-agricultural-district-Sasaki-architecture-industrial-china-shanghai_dezeen_2364_col_2-852x602.jpg)
Construction of the development is slated to begin in Shanghai in late 2017.
It will form part of a new community-focused, mixed-use development called Sunqiao Urban Agricultural District, designed to celebrate and promote sustainable agriculture.
Sasaki claims the project will provide a centre for education as well as food production, and will feature interactive greenhouses and a museum to encourage visitor participation. Other amenities will include restaurants, markets and a culinary academy.
![Sasaki's plans for Sunqiao Urban Agricultural District in Shanghai](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/05/sunqiao-urban-agricultural-district-Sasaki-architecture-industrial-china-shanghai_dezeen_hero-a-852x479.jpg)
This movie is part of our Dezeen x MINI Living Initiative, a year-long collaboration with MINI exploring how architecture and design can contribute to a brighter urban future. All images are courtesy of Sasaki Associates.
Watch all the movies as we publish them at: www.dezeen.com/miniliving